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Monday, November 21, 2011

Little Bits Quilting Bee

I know I've been blogging a lot about new book releases lately. I think we're just in the middle of a great season for quilting books. Modern quilters seem to have a large appetite for visual inspiration and new project ideas in the form of books and, for the most part, I think the publishers are really stepping up to the plate with well-written, high-quality books with original ideas and beautiful photography.

Having said that, I am especially excited to blog today about the new book Little Bits Quilting Bee. In so many ways, this book is different. From the moment I opened the envelope, I knew this book was special.

Little Bits Quilting Bee was written by Kathreen Ricketson, who provides creative inspiration to thousands of people every day via her blog Whip Up. Little Bits Quilting Bee features 20 projects for small fabric scraps and bundles including jelly rolls, charm squares, layer cakes, and fat quarters.

So what makes this book special? More than anything else, Kathreen and her team at Chronicle Books have simply put together a beautiful book. It's a hard-covered book that feels good in your hand. The design of the book -- from the colors to the photography to the fonts used -- is spot on. And, of course, the quilts themselves and the fabrics used are inspired.

As I mentioned, the book is broken out by projects that use the various kinds of pre-cuts -- from jelly rolls to charm squares to layer cakes. Although I feel like my own personal style has moved a little bit towards a more scrappy style, I still have a weakness for pre-cuts. Something about making sure I have every print in a collection appeals to a little piece of me that must have a severe case of OCD.

Plus, I feel like pre-cuts -- and patterns that use them -- are often quite approachable for beginning quilters ... an audience whose libraries, I think, would benefit greatly from Little Bits Quilting Bee's inclusion.

Of the many great projects in this book, two immediately jumped out as my favorites.

First is the Constructivist. Not only is the triangle pattern featured in this project a lot of fun (full templates are provided), but it's made up with some of my favorite fabrics. (The quilting on this project is also amazing.)

The quilt I am most likely to make -- and soon! -- is Squadron. The main block of this quilt -- an improvised strip-pieced block -- is designed to resemble an airplane, but I was struck by the secondary patterns that emerge when many of these blocks are sewn together. I'm a big fan.

This write-up of Little Bits Quilting Bee comes with my highest recommendation. With the holidays fast approaching, I think this book would make a great addition to any quilter's wish list.

I'm also very excited to be able to give one copy of Little Bits Quilting Bee to a lucky Quilt Dad reader. Simply leave a comment on this post and say hello! I'll randomly select a winner next Friday, 12/2.

Be sure to visit the other stops on the book tour for even more chances to win this great book. Good luck!

Your review is enthusiastic and heartfelt. That says something. I also really like the squadron. I don't think it's just the colors in the book. It has a more masculine feel--great for me because I have boys and men to quilt for.

Hey there . I love your blog . The book is great . I love all of the quilts . I am not to familiar with the jelly rolls and such and would like to get my feet wet with this book . Thnaks for the giveaway . Piecefully Carol in the Poconos of Pa fiberdiva@verizon.net

Hello! When I first started quilting, I didn't buy many precuts, but somehow, over time, because I have the same concern with having a piece of every fabric in certain lines, I find myself with quite a few. This sounds like a great source of patterns for that part of the stash!

The Squadron quilt is gorgeous. Sew many Beautiful quilts in the book. Looks and sounds like it's a must have for any quilter's library. The only precuts I've used are charm squares but I'm looking forward to trying some of the others.